New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brand Lander was arrested Tuesday (main image) for escorting an immigrant out of a courtroom. He was charged with assaulting law enforcement and impeding federal officers.
According to The Associated Press, the US attorney’s office is investigating Lander’s actions and deliberating on charging him with a crime.
Lander had locked arms with a man who was the subject of detainment for ICE agents, whom they attempted to detach from Lander for nearly a minute. Lander then questioned the officers as to whether they had a judicial warrant, which he claimed they needed as a requirement to arrest a US citizen.
“Can I see a judicial warrant. I will let go when you show me a judicial warrant,” Lander said. You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens.”
“You’re obstructing,” an officer told Lander while still trying to detangle him from the immigrant.
“I’m not obstructing, I’m standing right here in the hallway,” Lander replied, continuing to ask for a judicial warrant.
“I believe it is important to show up and bear witness and accompany people,” Lander said in defense of his actions after his release from federal custody.
The Department of Homeland Security commented on the incident and doubled down on the consequences of politicians obstructing the work of federal law enforcement.
On the alternative social media platform Bluesky, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed Lander was unduly arrested by ICE while “conducting routine immigration court work.”
In similar news, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested in May for trespassing at a new federal immigration detention center. Baraka was opposed to the opening of the building due to permit issues, according to The Associated Press. Additionally, in April a Milwaukee judge attempted to help an immigrant escape from a courtroom, but was stopped and ultimately arrested by the FBI.
